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Audi 100

The Audi 100 and Audi 200 are executive cars manufactured for model years 1968–1994 by Audi, a division of the Volkswagen Group. The C3 model of the Audi 100 was sold in the United States as the Audi 5000 until 1988.

Audi 100 / Audi 200
/ Audi 5000 / Audi 500

Overview

Manufacturer

Auto Union GmbH,
Audi NSU Auto Union AG (1969–1985), Audi AG

Also
called

Audi 5000

Production

1968–1994

Body and chassis

Class

Mid-size luxury car
/

Executive car

Platform

Volkswagen Group C
platform

Chronology

Successor

Audi A6

Audi 100 (C1, 1968 - 1976)

1969 Audi 100

Audi 100 (C1)

Overview

Production

1968-1976

827.474 built

Saloon: 796,787

Coupé S: 30.687

Assembly

Neckarsulm,
Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Ingolstadt,
Bavaria, Germany

Wolfsburg, Lower
Saxony, Germany

Designer

Ludwig Kraus

Body and chassis

Body
style

2-/4-door
saloon/sedan

2-door coupé

Layout

FF layout

Platform

Volkswagen Group C1
platform

Powertrain

Engine

1.8 L I4

1.9 L I4

Transmission

4-speed manual all-synchromesh

automatic optional

Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,675 mm (105.3 in)
(coupe)

Length

4,399 mm (173.2 in)

Width

1,727 mm (68 in)

Height

1,417 mm (55.8 in)

Curb
weight

1,089 kg (2,401 lb)
(coupe)

The first Audi 100, developed by Volkswagen's subsidiary Auto Union at Ingolstadt, was shown to the press on 26 November 1968. Its name originally denoting a power output of 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp), the Audi 100 was the company's largest car since the revival of the Audi brand by Volkswagen in 1965. The C1 platform spawned several variants: the Audi 100 two- and four-door saloons, and the Audi 100 Coupé S, a stylish fastback coupé, which bore a remarkable resemblance to the Aston Martin DBS released a year earlier, especially at the rear end, including details such as the louvres behind the rear side windows and shape of the rear light clusters.

Audi followed up the introduction of the four-door saloon in November 1968 with a two-door saloon in October 1969 and the 100 Coupé S in autumn 1970. The cars' four-cylinder engines originally came in base 100 ( 80 PS or 59 kW; 79 hp), 100 S (1.8 litre, 90 PS or 66 kW; 89 hp) and 100 LS (1.8 litre, 100 PS or 74 kW; 99 hp) guise, while the Coupé was driven by a bored-out 1.9 litre developing 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp). From April 1970 the 100 LS could be ordered with a three-speed automatic transmission sourced from Volkswagen.

The Audi 100 enjoyed a level of commercial success for which the company had not planned. As a distinguished German commentator pointed out, the rough engine note was unlikely to discourage buyers whose first car had been a Volkswagen and who aspired to drive a diesel powered (pre-turbo) Mercedes-Benz. Despite running the Ingolstadt production line at full capacity, supply fell short of demand to such an extent that during the summer of 1970 an additional production line for Audi 100s was set up in Volkswagen's own Wolfsburg plant, which made it the first water-cooled car to be produced in Germany's (and by some criteria the world's) largest car plant.

Starting with model year 1972 the 80 and 90 PS versions were replaced by a new regular-petrol-variant of the 1.8 litre engine developing 85 PS (84 hp/63 kW); at the same time, the 100 GL was introduced that featured the 1.9 liter engine formerly used in the Coupé S only.

In March 1971 the 500,000th Audi was produced. By now the Audi 100 had become the most commercially successful model in the company's history, so it is unsurprising that the car in question was an Audi 100 produced at the Ingolstadt plant.

In September 1973 the 100 received a minor facelift with a somewhat smaller grille and reshuffled taillight lens patterns. The rear torsion bar was replaced by coil springs. For model year 1975 the base 100 was re-christened the 100 L and received a 1.6 litre four-cylinder engine (coming out of the Audi 80). A four-wheel drive prototype of the Audi 100 C1 was built in 1976, long before the appearance of the quattro.

In the United States the Audi 100 appeared in 1970 in LS guise, with a 115 hp (86 kW) SAE 1.8 liter engine and with either two or four doors.[7] For 1972 the engine was enlarged to 1.9 litres, but since the power figures were now in SAE net claimed power was down to a less impressive sounding 91 hp (68 kW). A base and a GL model were added, as was an automatic transmission. For 1974 the lineup was again restricted to the 100 LS, while the larger safety bumpers were now fitted. Power increased to 95 hp (71 kW) for 1975, courtesy of fuel injection. Standard equipment was also improved, but at the cost of a sizable price hike. In August 1977 the new Audi 5000 replaced the 100, although another 537 leftover cars were sold in 1978. The Coupé was never sold in the United States.

Audi 100 LS two-door Saloon (C1)

1976 Audi 100 LS four-door Saloon (C1)

1973 Audi 100 Coupé S (C1)

Audi 100 and 200 (C2, 1976 - 1982)

Audi 100 C2 front view

Audi 100 C2 rear view

Audi 100 & 200
(C2)

Overview

Also
called

Audi 5E (Australia)

Production

1976–1982

988,581

100 4-door: 887,647

Avant: 49,652

200: 51,282

Assembly

Neckarsulm,
Ingolstadt, Germany

Uitenhage, South
Africa

Lagos, Nigeria

Body and chassis

Body
style

4-door saloon/sedan

5-door hatchback

2-door saloon

Layout

Front engine, front-wheel
drive

Platform

Volkswagen Group C2
platform

Powertrain

Engine

1.6 L & 2.0 L
I4

1.9 L & 2.1 L
I5 (non-turbo and turbo)

2.0 L I5 diesel
& turbo diesel

Transmission

3-speed automatic

5-speed manual

Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,677 mm (105.39 in)

Length

4,680 mm (184.25 in)

Width

1,768 mm (69.61 in)

Height

1,393 mm (54.84 in)

Curb
weight

1,148 kg (2,532 lb)

The restyled C2 Audi 100 was launched in 1976, with an in-line five-cylinder engine. It was initially a 100 PS (74 kW) engine offering "six-cylinder power and four-cylinder economy", and later upgraded to 136 PS (100 kW).

The Coupé was discontinued, but a five-door hatchback model, the 100 Avant, was launched in August 1977 as part of this generation. The mainstay of the range remained the four-door sedan model. A two-door sedan version was offered, primarily on the domestic market, from February 1977, but by now there was little demand, even in Germany, for large two-door sedans: few of these two-door Audi 100 C2s were sold.

At the end of September 1977, the Audi 100 became the manufacturer's first model to reach a production level of 1,000,000 units. The millionth Audi 100 was a hatchback Audi 100 Avant assembled not at the company's main Ingolstadt plant but to the west, at the Neckarsulm factory which, since the demise of the mainstream volume models from the NSU range, had been concentrating on providing additional production capacity for the fast selling Audi range.

About 850.000 Audi 100/200 C2 were built, of which 133.512 were sold in the USA.

Right Hand Drive Audi 200 5E and 5T (type 43)

The RHD Audi 200 5E and 5T were introduced into the UK in 1979, only 500 were imported. The 5T (170 PS) was a higher spec Turbo version of the 5E (136 PS injection) and came with many optional extras as standard. As an attempt to lure British buyers the UK version of the 5T had opening quarter lights, electric wing mirrors, a sun roof, cruise control and heated seats. All Type 43 200's came with Automatic gearboxes, a five-speed manual was special order only.

Gallery

1981 Audi 5000 (US)

Audi 200 Turbo

The 2-door version, offered from 1977, was a slow seller

The 5-door Avant, despite a profile reminiscent of an early Passat/Dasher, found more buyers

Audi 100, 200 & 5000 (C3, 1982 - 1991)

1989 Audi 200 front view

1989 Audi 200 rear view

Audi 100 & 200
(C3)

Overview

Also
called

Hongqi Mingshi

Production

1982–1991 (Germany)

1992–1999 (China;
FAW-VW)

Assembly

Neckarsulm, Germany

Changchun, China

Uitenhage, South
Africa

Tokyo, Japan (AMA)

Body and chassis

Body
style

4-door saloon/sedan

5-door estate/wagon

Layout

Front engine, front-wheel
drive / quattro permanent four-wheel drive

Platform

Volkswagen Group C3
platform

Powertrain

Engine

1.8 L I4

1.9 L I5

2.0 L I5

2.1 L I5

2.2 L I5

2.3 L I5

2.0 L I5 Diesel

2.0 L I5
Turbodiesel

2.4 L I5 Diesel

2.5 L I5 TDI

Transmission

4/5-speed manual

3/4-speed automatic

Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,682 mm (105.6 in)

(1988–1991 FWD
& 200)

2,690 mm (105.9 in)

(1988–1990 AWD
& Wagons)

2,687 mm (105.8 in)
(Pre-1988)

Length

4,793 mm (188.7 in)
(RoW)

4,895 mm (192.7 in)
(USA)

Width

1,814 mm (71.4 in)

Height

1,420 mm (55.9 in)

1,415 mm (55.7 in)
(S)

Edging out the Ford Sierra as the 1983 European Car of the Year, the 1983 Audi 100 had an aerodynamic look, achieving a drag coefficient of 0.30 for its smoothest base model. The increased aerodynamic efficiency resulted in better fuel economy, which was an effective marketing tool for Audi in the 1980s. The shape was a marked contrast from the boxy shape of the C2, an updated appearance commonly found in cars built in the late 1940s to early 1960s called "ponton" styling. Also of note was new technology introduced in the C3, including the procon-ten safety system.

Audi was able to follow up on the modern smooth look first seen in this segment on the 1967 NSU Ro 80 and popularised by the 1974 Citroën CX. This rounded look became the norm by the 1990s. It also set a styling trend of flush wheel covers, a thick black side door moulding and blacked out window frames eventually adopted by a range of cars such as the 1984 Honda Accord and the Chrysler K cars. Audi innovated flush windows on the C3, a key area for aerodynamic drag that has been adopted by virtually all manufacturers today. In addition to giving it better fuel economy its aerodynamic body gave the 100 higher top speed than other cars of similar engine size.

The two-door models were no longer available, and the Audi 100 Avant was reintroduced as Audi's first attempt at a station wagon based on the 100. The 200, launched in 1983 continued as the upmarket variant with several versions of the 2.2 L turbo 5-cylinder available in different markets over its life ranging in power outputs from 165 PS (121 kW) MC engine, through the 200 PS (147 kW) versions to the final 220 PS (162 kW) 20-valve 3B engine available from 1991. Due to its low drag coefficient, the 1983 Audi 200 Turbo had a top speed of 224 km/h (139 mph). The MC turbo engine was available in the 100 as well for some markets.

The 1991 200 20V was distinguished by its flared front and rounded rear wheel arches instead of the flat type used for the rest of the 100-200 range, this allowed wider wheel and tire combinations to be fitted to 20V models. For many markets, the 20V Audi 200 gave customers a taste of performance levels that would later be seen in the C4-Chassis Audi S4, and S6. US Magazine articles of the period reported 0-60 times of the 20v Audi 200 under 7 seconds, with 1/4 mile times in the mid to upper 15 second mark.

The 100 also featured a 2.5 L straight-five direct injection turbo-diesel (TDI) model with 120 PS (88 kW) introduced in January 1990 (engine code 1T). A such-engined Audi 100 was the very first model to wear the now ubiquitous and hugely successful TDI label that changed the perception of diesel engines all over the world. It had a brief career in the C3, being replaced in December of that year when the C4 arrived.

Reported sudden unintended acceleration

During model years 1983–1987, Audi's U.S. sales fell after a series of recalls of Audi 5000 models associated with reported incidents of sudden unintended acceleration linked to six deaths and 700 accidents. At the time, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was investigating 50 car models from 20 manufacturers for sudden surges of power.

In North America, television broadcast network CBS produces a news program called 60 Minutes, which aired a report titled Out of Control on November 23, 1986, featuring interviews with six people who had sued Audi after reporting unintended acceleration, including footage of an Audi 5000 ostensibly displaying a surge of acceleration while the brake pedal was depressed. Subsequent investigation revealed that 60 Minuteshad not disclosed they had engineered the vehicle's behavior – fitting a canister of compressed air on the passenger-side floor, to pump fluid via a hose to a hole drilled into the transmission — the arrangement executed by one of the experts who had testified on behalf of a plaintiff in a then-pending lawsuit against Audi's parent company.

Audi initially responded by suggesting that the drivers of the cars involved in the incidents were at fault, because they had stepped on the accelerator pedal rather than the brake. Subsequently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that the majority of unintended acceleration cases, including all the ones that prompted the 60 Minutes report, were caused by driver error such as confusion of pedals. CBS did not acknowledge the test results of involved government agencies, but did acknowledge the similar results of another study. Audi's research demonstrated that many of the drivers who encountered "unintended acceleration" were "below average in height".

In a review study published in 2012, NHTSA summarized its past findings about the Audi unintended acceleration problems: "Once an unintended acceleration had begun, in the Audi 5000, due to a failure in the idle-stabilizer system (producing an initial acceleration of 0.3g), pedal misapplication resulting from panic, confusion, or unfamiliarity with the Audi 5000 contributed to the severity of the incident."

This summary is consistent with the conclusions of NHTSA's most technical analysis at the time: "Audi idle-stabilization systems were prone to defects which resulted in excessive idle speeds and brief unanticipated accelerations of up to 0.3g [which is similar in magnitude to an emergency stop in a subway car]. These accelerations could not be the sole cause of [(long-duration) sudden acceleration incidents (SAI)], but might have triggered some SAIs by startling the driver. The defective idle-stabilization system performed a type of electronic throttle control. Significantly: multiple "intermittent malfunctions of the electronic control unit were observed and recorded … and [were also observed and] reported by Transport Canada."

With the series of recall campaigns, Audi made several modifications; the first adjusted the distance between the brake and accelerator pedal on automatic-transmission models. Later repairs of 250,000 cars dating back to 1978 added a device requiring the driver to press the brake pedal before shifting out of park. It is unclear what was done regarding the defects in the idle-stabilization system. As a byproduct of the Audi scare, vehicles now include gear stick patterns and brake interlock mechanisms to prevent inadvertent gear selection.

Audi’s U.S. sales, which had reached 74,061 in 1985, dropped to 12,283 in 1991 and remained level for three years. – with resale values falling dramatically. Audi subsequently offered increased warranty protection and renamed the affected models — with the 5000 becoming the 100 and 200 in 1989. The company only reached the same level of U.S. sales again by model year 2000.

As of early 2010, a class-action lawsuit — dealing with a charge that on account of the sudden acceleration controversy, Audi models had lost resale value — filed in 1987 by about 7,500 Audi Audi 5000-model owners remains unsettled and is currently contested in county court in Chicago after appeals at the Illinois state and U.S. federal levels.

The 5000 S/Turbo was on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 1984 and 1985. The CS Turbo quattro was on that list for 1986 through 1988.

Production Figures

100

852,243

100
Avant

122,852

200

97,195

200
Avant

6,153

Total

1,078,443

Audi 200 Quattro Trans AM

Racing

In 1988, after years of rallying, Audi would enter the Trans-Am Series with the 200 turbo quattro via the services of Bob Tullius's Group 44 Racing. As usual the car ran their trademark Quattro system. However this did not run without controversy as the car, piloted by Haywood and with both Walter Röhrl and Hans Joachim Stuck sharing duties, steamrollered the opposition taking eight out of thirteen wins. As Audi would defect to IMSA by the end of the season, the SCCA would change the regulation to a two-wheel drive only and banning cars with non American engines from taking part. The Historic Trans-am & IMSA Group is dedicated to the preservation of the cars that ran in the SCCA Trans-am series and the similar IMSA GTO class from 1980 until 1991.

Audi released the C4 (a heavily revised C3) in 1991. The C3-platform Audi V8 continued to be sold as a separate line. The major change for the C4 was the introduction of a 2.8 L, 90-degree, SOHC 12v, V6 engine. It was later joined by a 2.6 L variant, of the same configuration as the 2.8 L unit. They are essentially the same engines offered in the 1992, B4 Audi 80. The option of quattro permanent four-wheel drive was an option across the range, and the Audi 100 quattro was available with a ZF four-speed automatic gearbox.

For the 1995 model year, in conjunction with some styling revisions, Audi dropped the Audi 100 tag, renaming it the A6 instead. In addition, the existing 100-derived Audi S4 became the S6. The S4 name was later re-used for the high-performance derivative of the Audi A4. The Audi V8 had been replaced by the A8 in 1994.

The C4-based A6 continued until early 1997, when it was replaced by an all-new A6.

Gallery

Audi 100 C4 Avant

Audi 100 C4

Type numbers

In addition to the C platform codes, Audi assigned type numbers to their models:

Chinese production

An example of Hongqi CA7200, seen in Shanghai

The C3-platform Audi 100 was also produced in Changchun, China, by FAW (First Automobile Works, a Chinese automotive manufacturer), for many years during the 1990s. Since most products are for governmental usage, all of China-made 100s are front-wheel drive sedans with a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine or a 2.3 L 5-cylinder one.

In 1990, Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC approved a resolution to circumscribe car import and the engine displacement of cars equipped to officials. Furthermore, the resolution also prescribed that all cars of central departments of both Party and government must be homemade ones. As the most luxurious and advanced cars made in China in early-1990s, FAW-Audi 100 and 200 have possessed a considerable percentage in Chinese high-class market of executive cars for nearly one decade, until the C3-platform cars was replaced by Audi A6 in 1999.

During the negotiation between FAW and Volkswagen in late-1980s, Volkswagen acceded to FAW's suggestion of combining the C3 platform with previously introduced Chrysler engines in the new generation Hongqi (Red Flag). Hongqi CA7200 series with the technology of C3 were launched in mid-1990s, while most of C3 Audi 100 parts could be made in China. CA7200 were initially equipped with Chrysler 2.0 L or 2.2 L 4-cylinder 488 engines, whose product line was introduced into China in 1987. In 2000s, new Nissan VQ20 engines replaced the original 4-cylinder petrol engine.

A small number of C3 200s (with 1.8T or 2.6 V6 engine) and some early C4 100s (largely in European style but with tail lights in American style) were also assembled in Changchun.

Audi Duo

At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1990 Audi presented its first iteration of the Audi Duo (or Audi 100 Avant Duo) experimental vehicle, a plug-in parallel hybrid based on the Audi 100 Avant quattro. This car had a 12.6 bhp (9.4 kW) Siemens electric motor which drove the rear wheels. A trunk-mounted nickel-cadmium battery supplied energy to the motor that drove the rear wheels. The vehicle's front wheels were powered by a 2.3-litre five-cylinder engine with an output of 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp). The intent was to produce a vehicle which could operate on the engine in the country and electric mode in the city. Mode of operation could be selected by the driver. Just ten vehicles are believed to have been made; one drawback was that due to the extra weight of the electric drive, the vehicles were less efficient when running on their engines alone than standard Audi 100s with the same engine.

In late 1991, Audi unveiled the second Duo generation – likewise based on the Audi 100 Avant quattro. Once again this featured an electric motor, a 28.6 PS (21 kW; 28 hp) three-phase machine, driving the rear wheels. This time, however, the rear wheels were additionally powered via the Torsen differential from the main engine compartment, which housed a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.